Process and compositions for treating nematodes



2,947,660 PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING NEMATODES Otto L. Holfmann, Pittsbnrg, Kans., assignor to Spencer Surprisingly, the alpha, omega-dihalo propane and butane compounds and 1,5 -dichloropentane were found to be unsuitable as nematocides.

When used in the treatment of soils at the recom- 5 mended nemtocidal rates the compounds found active are Chemlc al confpany a corpomhon of Mlssmm not phytotoxic. Moreover, they may be applied to either N0 DraWmg' Filed 1 7! 6 sen 626,833 the affected soil or plant and at any stage of plant growth 10 Claims. (Cl. 167-22) without damage to the plant. l,2-dibrom0ethane, on the i other hand, which is presently used as afnematocide, is Ti qYent relates to the m 1 10 very injurious to living plants. For this reason, it may 9935 9 3 15. useful therefon More pamcularlyz thls only be used with complete safety if applied to the soil vennfm relates to the cPntorl of wt s b the use of about one week prior to planting. During this period Bea e h 9 el n s n I it is expected to sterilize the soil and thereafter vo'latize sitions containing at least one such compound, or ts equivinto the m alents, as actlve d en V Low mammalian toxicity, in which the LD an albino l smatqde a n e q e wqm s found In the mice (orally) is 1530 mg./kilogm., makes application 9 z MP and me e Including the hook of the compounds safe. W 59 Piilw f r mwg rm: t hm ga i; The following test procedures were employed in evaluam d wh n tiirm Q m ting the alpha, om'ega-dihaloalka'nes: T as used herein is intended to include all forms through r a Contact fest nematodes pass in a life cycle, such as eggs, larvae and adults -Water suspensions of the .test chemlcal are prepared in Plantnematodes or eelworms range in length from less 11h? e qn sfines of 5 n P-P thanfourth n about onbeighth Qf Each concentration s placed in a separate stoppered test ariinch. Plant nematodesar'e found in all soils in which tube Fraishly hatched l i r h added to h plants will grow, and consequently major crop is concentration. After 24 hours, and again after 5-7 days p'pfemial victim of this The annual damage as the contents of each test tube are obsen ed through a either direcfly indirectly incurred from nematodes microscope. If a sign ficant percentage kill is obtained, may be as great as three billion dollars. d nematodes are Collated sn P ta 1 Since the first steps to control plant nematodes by a F- "i compared Wlth a contml contalmng 9 chemical treatment in 1881, employing carbon disulfide, m li .there hasnot been a material introduced which was en- Sell treatment (Pot test) ti iely. satisfactory. Even the inost promising compounds Water suspensions of the test chemicals are prepared in which have become commercially available provide inconcentrations corresponding'to 100 lbs. and 10 lbs. per adequate control and are expensive, toxic to animals, and acre. Four inch clay pots are filled with a soil which phytotoiric to many plants as well. Q is infested the nematode. The chemical suspension IIWe have discovered that alpha, omega-dihaloalkanes is then applied to the soil and after one week tomato .of the formula seedlings" are placed in the pots. After 6-8 weeks, the C H, plants are removed and observed for the presenceof 40 nematode damage. wherein X is chlorine or bromine and n is an integer from Fumigafivn test 3 (through 6 inclusive, but excluding l,5-dichloropentane,- This method consists of placing the nematode larvae are efiective in the control of plant parasitic nematodes. in sand and soil in contact with the compound being (As used herein alpha refers to .the first carbon and tested in sealed jars for 24 hours. The nematodes are omega to the terminal carbon in the alkane chain.) Some then decanted and examined for viability. The results of .typical useful compounds Within this formula are 1,5 the test represent the effect of both fumigation and dibromopentane, l,6-dibromo hexane, 1,6{dichlorohexane, contact. 1,7-dibromoheptane, 1,7-dichloroheptane, 1,8-dibromo- The results of these tests which were performed on octane, and 1,8-dichlorooctane. The bromo compounds representative alpha, omega-dihaloalkanes are included are generally more active than the chloro compounds. below for comparison.

Fnmigation Test (Lowest efiectiv Contact Test (Lowest conc., ppm.) eflective conc., p.p.m.) Nematoclde Sand Soil Soil Treatment (Pot Test) 24 hours 5-7 24 6 days 24 hours, 6 days, days hours top/bottom top/bottom 1.1,8-d1bromooctane..- 50 G883: iggggi:

control w/o inj1ur@y31t;;t/lO0Z 2.1,6-d1bromohexane... 505 509-.-; {ig"" igg ggz'" 3 922: hihited a ie ri gfecaution was i '5 taken to mu: this compound A thoroughly with soil.

{iat 'II T66 111 183%521' .Iiiiffk: 4.1,5-dibromopentane- 50 50 100 10 31.6/NS 31.6/31.6 100% control w/o inju.ry@l00#/A. 5. 1,5-.d ich1oropentane N3? ISin-)Felsen N8? NS. 6. 1,4-dibromobntane... Ns ni NS NS NS NS. 7' 13 dibmm9prppape Nsa 500a 1007 control 100#/Acre but in 500 500 N5 100 IOU/N86- 10.0/3l.6. i cmtml "{NS NS)..- 100 100 100 100-.- m P N5 Ditylenchns species. FPanagrellus. 1,2-dlbromoethane; acommercialnernatocidg. Meloidogyne. .Rliabditus. NS =No significant control.

of nematode present.

sitic nematodes is concerned, will depend upon the type of plant as well as such factors as pH of the soil, soil condition and climatic conditions, and the particular type Excellent contol of the Meloidogyne species, without danger of phytotoxicity, isexhibited .at a dosage ofabout 100 lbs. per acre.

The application of the active alpha, omega-dihaloalkanes to soils is readily achieved by the use of novel concentrates and compositions containing one such compound as the active ingredient. To achieve a suitable disperson on soils it is most convenient to employ compositions in which the compound is combined with an inert carrier or diluent. The carrier may be a polar solvent, in most of which the active compounds are soluble; it also may be a solvent which will not dissolve the compound, for suitable dispersions are also efiective. Such compositions may be be sprayed on the soil. Solid carriers areusually not employed due to the volatility of the compounds.

Water is the preferred carrier because it is so widely available and inexpensive. The compounds are esssentially insoluble in water, however, and accordingly, to provide compositions of uniform concentration from which the active compounds will not settle out rapidly, a surface active agent is included in the compositions. The surface active agent may be ionic or non-ionic and may be Various changes and modifications of the invention can be made and, to the extent that such variations incorporate the spirit of this invention, they are intended to be included within thescope of the appended claims.

We claim: v

l. A parasitic nematode control composition which comprises an alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5-dibromopentane and compounds of the formula r-( I)B'C?a X X wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine .and'bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6, a suris water and at least 50% by weight of the composition is the described alpha, omega-dihaloalkanes.

3. Agwettable powder for parasitic nematode control comprising a suitable inert powdered solid carrier, an

alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5 dibromopentane and compounds ofthe formula a liquid or solid under ordinary conditions. Typical satisfactory surface active agents which may be used are alkali-metal higher alkylaryl sulfonates such as sodium 'dodecyl benzene sulfonate, fatty-alcohol sulfates such as the sodium salts of the monoesters of sulfuric acid with n-aliphatic alcohols containing 8-18 carbon atoms, so-

dium salts of alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acids, long'chain quaternary ammonium compounds, sodium salts of petroleum-derived alkylsulfonic acids, polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate and alkyl aryl polyether alcohol. An

1 wherein is a member of the group consisting of chlorine adjuvant liquid may also be included in such compositions. Such liquid may be either soluble or insoluble in water and may be any solvent such as an alcohol, benzene, ltoluene, kerosene, or hexane, which aids in solubilizing or dispersing an 'active alpha, omega-dihaloalkane in water.

omega-dihaloalkanes which may be subsequently diluted, as with water, to the desired concentration for application to soil are also provided. The advantages of such con- Concentrated compositions containing the active alpha,

centrates are that they are prepared by the manufac- A wetting or surface active agent is also generally in;

cluded to facilitate subsequent dilution or dispersion in water. However, the wetting agent itself may compris the carrier in such concentrates.

The following emulsifiable concentrate is particularly useful for high dilution rates: 30% (wt) 1,6-dichlorohexane cohol and organic sulfonate I wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6, and a liquid surface active agent.

v 4. A parasitic nematode control concentrate comprising an alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5-dibromopentane and compounds of the formula and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6, and

la wetting agent.

5. The method of treating parasitic nematodes which comprises contacting thenematodes with a nematocidal amount of an alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5-dibromopentane and compounds of the formula oHr-(oH, ..-on,

wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6.

6. The method of treating plant parasitic nematodes which comprises applying'a nematocidal amount of an 1,5-dibromopentane and compounds of the formula alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of x i x wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is in an integer from 4 through 6, to

. plants and soils infected with the nematodes.

7. The method of conditioning soils containing parasitic nematodes which comprises applying to the soil a nematocidal amount of from 10 to pounds per acre of an alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5-dibromopentane and compounds of the formula 10% Triton X-lSl: blend of an alkylaryl polyether al- 10% Atlas CIPC emulsifier: a polyoxye'thylene fatty acid ester 25% cyclohexanone 25% xylene Another emulsifiable concentrate mayhave the formula" M wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6.

8. A parasitic nematode control composition which comprises an alpha, omega-dihaloalkane of the group consisting of 1,5-dibromopentane-and compounds of the 7 wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6, and an wherein X is a member of the group consisting of chlorine and bromine and n is an integer from 4 through 6, a surface active agent, and an inert liquid pesticide carrier as an adjuvant therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,909 Flint Dec. 4, 1934 2,057,044 Meisenburg Oct. 13, 1936 2,377,446 Payne June 5, 1945 2,411,566 Evans Nov. 26, 1946 2,419,073 Hammer Apr. 15, 1947 2,435,204 Davidson Feb. 3, 1948 2,448,265 Kagy Aug. 31, 1948 6 2,473,984 Bickerton June 21, 1949 2,502,244 Carter Mar. 20, 1950 2,543,580 Kay Feb. 27, 1951 2,586,793 Doty Feb. 26, 1952 2,726,485 Thomas Dec. 13, 1955 2,730,547 Dye Jan. 10, 1956 2,743,209 Jones Apr. 24, 1956 2,757,117 Birum July 31, 1956 2,770,638 Giolito Nov. 13, 1956 2,779,680 Wolf Jan. 29, 1957 2,794,727 Barrons June 4, 1957 2,802,021 Heininger Aug. 6, 1957 2,802,818 Wheeler Aug. 13, 1957 2,802,831 .Wheeler Aug. 13, 1957 2,809,983 Heininger Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 124,387 Australia June 12, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Frear: Chemistry of Insecticides, Fungicides and Herbicides, 2nd, September 1948, pp. 280 287, 108-122.

King: U.S.D.A., Handbook No. 69, May 1954, p. 252.

Parnell: Br. Jour. PharmacoL, vol 7 (1952), pp. 510- 533, pp. 510 and 514 relied upon.

Agricultural Chemicals, February 1956, p. 61.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,947,660 August 2, 1960 Otto L. Hoffmann It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 21, before "nematodes" insert which column 2, line 15, for "an" read 0n column 4, line 71, for that portion of the formula reading "'(CH2) read Signed and sealed this 2nd day of May 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w, SWIDER DAVID L LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A PARASTIC NEMATODE CONTROL COMPOSITION WHICH COMPRISES AN ALPHA, OMEGA-DIHALOALKANE OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 1,5-DIBROMOPENTANE AND COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULA 